Understanding Customer Demand for Activated Biochar in The Egyptian Water Treatment Sector

Abstract Egypt faces a critical water shortage, creating an urgent need for expanded water purification solutions. The government invests in water desalination projects to cover this water shortage, however, the dependence on imported water industry inputs increases the price of the purification of water treatment. Active biochar is a common chemical used in drinking water purification. Despite ongoing research on water treatment and recycling technologies, there is a lack of comprehensive market research and customer insights on activated biochar in Egypt. Herein, we present a customer discovery for the activated biochar market in the water treatment industry in Egypt. We interviewed 65 industry stakeholders, including water treatment experts, chemical suppliers, scientists, and key influencers. We found that the market of activated biochar in the water industry could be grouped into the following segments: household (domestic) filters, industrial and agricultural wastewater, desalination of seawater for drinking purposes, and water purification for industrial and farming requirements. In conclusion, activated biochar is an important chemical input for the water treatment industry in Egypt.